Chapter 13
“Any hints on what this is about?” Tennant asks.
“Nope.” And it’s irritating. Javi has yet to prove he’s effective, since he’s only been here less than a week, and his insistence that he’s the one in charge…it makes me want to take a knife to him and see how he likes someone messing with his emotions and brain.
Though…the medication he prescribed for sleep has allowed me to get a few hours more than usual.
It’s not enough to keep the nightmares away, but the last time I took it, the fear wasn’t as bad as it normally is.
I’m not ready to give him any credit, however.
Not without more data. Since Cole’s still missing, there isn’t time for me to sleep, so whether the change in medication will help me in the long run, I have no idea.
“Best to get it over with,” I grouse, knocking briskly on the office door.
When we’re given permission to enter, Tennant opens the door, slightly stepping in front of me as he does, as if he’s worried we'll be attacked.
I want to say it’s overkill, but with the knowledge that there’s still a mole unaccounted for—not counting the one Leandro and I are already watching, plus the nanny—I understand my love’s caution.
“Thank you for meeting with me,” Javi says smoothly, not rising from his seat. He gestures to the chairs across from the desk. “Please, take a seat.”
“What’s this about?” I ask, eyeing him and his…outfit. The lavender dress shirt actually complements his skin tone—for once—but the lime green suspenders with a paisley pattern do not, and they can probably be seen in the dark.
Javi folds his hands over a notebook lying on the desk, as he studies Ten and I with those eerie eyes of his.
“I’ve had an interesting day, and it’s not even noon yet.
I’ve spoken to both Allesandro, or Sandro, as I believe he’s wanting to be called nowadays, and Lio.
As you know, I’m very careful about making sure I have express permission before I speak about a subject with anyone else.
This situation is…uniquer than most, as Allesandro has requested it. ”
“Don’t play coy,” Tennant tells him carefully.
“Allesandro made an observation about Lio, one I assessed for myself. He believes, especially after the…incident with Stanley, that Lio would benefit from getting out of his head. That he’s drowning in his guilt, and he needs to release it.”
I let out a breath. My chest tightens with sudden fear, though not about Lio…well, not because of what happened between him and Allesandro the last time they were together.
“Fucking hell,” Tennant says in that too-familiar conversational voice of his. The one he uses when torturing someone, or…when he’s trying to keep himself reined in. “I hope you told him that was why you are fucking here.”
Javi purses his lips. “If you really believe that, then maybe you don’t fully understand Lio.
Because I can tell you what I saw just a little bit ago, and it goes deeper than just a traumatized boy, but one who needs his submissive place…
Though if you were only ever using him to get back at Allesandro, and didn’t really care about him… ”
The threat is clear; the look in Javi’s eyes promises he’ll take us out without an ounce of regret or a second thought.
“I should kill you for insinuating that,” Tennant hisses.
Javi smirks. “I’d love to see you try,” he purrs.
Tennant jumps from his seat, and I barely get a hand on him before he launches himself across the desk at Javi. The last thing we need is the two of them trying to kill each other.
“Tennant, he’s baiting you.”
“He can become fish bait if he loves it so fucking much,” Ten shoots back, though he doesn’t make another move.
“Emilio is important to both of us,” I tell Javi. “We…we know about his submissive needs. I did what I could when Allesandro and Cristian were missing, but we haven’t had time for a full scene since spitting from the old Families…”
Javi’s face softens a little. “Kink is different for everyone. The beauty of it is that no two people are the same, and can have very different wants and needs. I haven’t dived too far into it with Lio, as we’re still getting to know each other, and other things have taken precedence, but…
there are some things you’re not able to give him. ”
Dropping my hand from Ten, I place both in my lap and look down at them. “I know,” I whisper. “And that’s what scares me. I am not Emilio’s Master. I…do not have the experience he does. My wants are different from his. I…I have to be honest, right?” I meet Javi’s eyes fleetingly.
“Yes, this only works if I know what I’m dealing with.”
Taking a breath, I nod. “I’m scared. Not of what Allesandro might do…
well, not in the way you think. I hate that he hurt Lio.
I want to flay him alive for daring to think he can touch that Boy in that way…
but those are feelings I’m not ready to dive in with.
Not when I’ve only ever said it aloud a handful of times.
No, I’m terrified Lio will have this taste of his Master and… not come back.”
I look up at Tennant, meeting his icy gaze.
“I am a controlling bastard, and a possessive one too, but I am not the one who introduced Emilio to the world of pain and pleasure. What if he realizes that what I have to offer isn’t enough?
Allesandro is his Master. He can meet Lio’s needs in a way I can’t. ”
Tennant drops to his knees in front of me, grabbing my hands.
“That doesn’t matter, Hol. Emilio chose you, of all people, to be there for him when this all started.
He came back again and again in the beginning.
What he gets from you isn’t the same as what he gets from me.
He calls you his Owner because that’s exactly what you are.
You own him, heart, body, and soul, and you recognize how important it is for him to have his Daddy and Master. ”
I start trembling, and it’s hard to take a full breath, but Ten is there to ground me, his hands warm in mine, his gaze steady and unwavering.
“What do you think?” I ask quietly.
“I think I want to stab Allesandro a couple hundred times and bathe in his blood. But…it’s not about us, is it?”
I shake my head. “No…it’s about Emilio.”
“Do you trust him?”
I bite my lip before I blurt out the first answer that comes to mind. The problem with that is…I do trust him. As much as I trust Ten or any of my other lovers. The cucciolo has wormed his way in and made himself important in a way I never expected.
“Yes,” I finally answer. “It scares the shit out of me, but I do.”
“It’s normal to be worried,” Javi says softly, drawing my attention to him.
“Allesandro broke trust, not just Lio’s and the other Boys’, but yours as well.
I have to admit, I believe him when he says he wants nothing but the best for Lio.
I spoke to Lio, and he knows he needs this.
He also knows his Master is the one who can fulfil this need.
He doesn’t just need it, he wants it. Though I believe he doesn’t want to want it.
“You may have given your approval for him to be with Allesandro, but as his Owner, he’ll need your okay for this as well.
I haven’t had time to unravel the intricacies of your relationships, but if there’s one thing I’ve gathered, and heard from Allesandro today, it’s that when Lio loves, he loves hard and completely.
I imagine that will play into his decisions, as he knows how you feel about his Master. ”
Being reminded that my actions and thoughts are hurting my Puppy has me flinching.
Tennant looks at Javi over his shoulder. “Keep your fucking mouth shut if you’re not going to be helpful, or I will close it for you.”
“This isn’t the time for flirting, Tennant.” Javi smiles. “Hollis knows I’m right. I’m here to help you all. If you can’t appreciate it…I have better things to do.”
Tennant goes to rise, but I squeeze his hands. “He’s right, Ten. I…I just feel like a failure. Lio trusts me to be his Owner and I…I can’t even give him what he needs.”
“You do, though, Hol. You give him a safe place to land. You dive into kinks no one else does, because you’re possessive as fuck and need to leave your mark in a way that’ll be remembered.”
I snort. “As if you don’t have a fucking blood obsession…”
Tennant shrugs. “That’s besides the point.
What I am saying is…only you can give us all the feeling of safety and home.
You provide it with how fucking possessive you are.
You’re who we look to for comfort, Tesoro.
Emilio trusts you, and I do too. So…if you’re okay with this, then, well, I can’t promise I am okay, but I’ll follow your lead. Always.”
I take a deep breath. “I want you to be in the room with him. I…I c—can’t. Maybe in the future, but…I have my own shit to work out before I can watch someone other than you touch him.”
Tennant nods. “Over my fucking dead body would Allesandro ever be allowed to touch our Pup without me present. Don’t worry, Tesoro, I’ll be there, keeping an eye on things, and making sure Emilio knows this doesn’t make us love him less.
Hell, if anything, it’ll only strengthen our relationship because knowing he’s brave enough to take what he needs?
It makes me want to show the Little Monster how much he means to me. ”
I huff a small laugh. “I love you. Thank you, for always knowing what to say.”
He leans in and kisses me softly. “I know you, Hol. I don’t like it, but I’ll trust you, and Lio.”
“Well,” Javi drawls. “That was easy.” I flick a glare at him. “Do you need to talk, Hollis?”
I take a deep breath. “No… I am…not okay, but I will be once Lio is.”
He nods. “I’m always here if you ever need to. I suggest maybe spending the time when Lio is with Allesandro with Roman? He is struggling to understand his friend’s submission, and why this has to come from Allesandro.”
That makes both Tennant and I wince. For as much as Roman loves being used like a toy, he isn’t submissive like Lio. I know he understands kink and doesn’t judge, but there’s a difference between knowing kink is different for everyone and seeing the nuances of what that means.
“Shall we go talk to them now?” Ten asks me.
I nod. “Yeah.”
He stands and holds out a hand, helping me up. We turn to the door and Javi says, “You’re welcome!”
We ignore him, though I can hear him grumbling to himself, but if he’s going to last here, well, he’ll have to get used to the way Tennant and I do things. He’s lucky we both love Lio more than life, otherwise, this meeting wouldn’t have gone in his favor.
Tennant holds my hand the entire walk to Roman and Lio’s room. He doesn’t bother knocking on the partially closed door, and I don’t comment on it. The two of them are used to Tennant barging in whenever he wants.
I’m not surprised to see the Boys curled up with each other, looking at something on Roman’s tablet. The sight of them makes me smile, and I can’t wait until Lio is off suicide watch so they can do that while in between Ten and me.
“What are you looking at?” Tennant asks.
“Clothes,” Roman replies. “Lio wants some other options that aren’t suits, and I need new clothes, too.”
“You do not need new skirts, Little Prince.”
“Yes, I do,” Roman says at the same time Lio replies, “Yes, he does.”
Tennant rolls his eyes. “Turn that off for a moment, we need to talk to you both.”
They look at each other before Roman sets the tablet aside. “Is this about what Javi wanted?” he asks.
“Yes,” I reply. Looking between them, I see two very different reactions. Roman is…displeased, though he doesn’t voice it. While Lio looks a mixture of hopeful and guilty. Fuck.
Walking to the side of the bed, I open my arms and get an armful of Puppy. “It’s okay, Cucciolo,” I reassure him. “I know you need this. I’m not upset. I promise.”
He shudders in my embrace. “I love you, Sir.”
“I love you, too.”
He pulls away slightly and I kiss him, owning his mouth. Lio submits so beautifully to me, and I wish I could watch him go deeper, but…not yet. My emotions are too all over the place to be objective about seeing Allesandro touch him again.
“Daddy is going to watch your Master own you, Pup,” I tell him. “Both for our peace of mind, and because your Daddy wants to see you get what you need. What do you think about that?”
His breath catches. “He won’t be mad?”
I shake my head. “No, Baby. Neither Daddy nor I are mad about this. If you need it, want it, then we want you to have it.”
“Thank you, Sir.” He leans in and presses a soft kiss to my mouth.
“How can you trust him?” Roman asks, sounding hurt.
“Roman,” Tennant starts, but Lio moves out of my embrace and goes to his friend.
He frames Roman’s face in his hands, and says, “I trust him with my life. As much as I trust you, Daddy, and Sir. He did something evil and unforgivable…and I understand you won’t like him or trust him, but trust me. Please, Caro Mio. I love him. Trust me, Rome.”
Rome? I look at Tennant, his amused expression probably mirroring mine.
Tears fall from Roman’s eyes. “I need you to be safe.”
“I will be. Daddy will be there.”
“I will,” Tennant reassures.
Roman studies Lio for a long moment, before reaching up to cover Lio’s wrists with his hands. “You need this?”
Lio nods. “I’m sorry.”
Roman shakes his head. “No, Amore. No. Never tell me you’re sorry, not for this. I love you too much to let you suffer.”
Lio moves in and kisses Roman. I look once more to Tennant, his eyes meeting mine as we process what we’re seeing.
Not that either of us cares that the two of them have…found their way together, but after this long, I never expected them to cross that line.
Roman deepens the kiss for a moment before pulling away. “Okay, I trust you. I…hope you have fun, and get what you need.”
Lio caresses Roman’s face. “You’re part of what I need. Be here for me after?”
“Always, Amico Mio. Always.”
Lio looks back at me, and I reach out to gather him in my arms again. “I’ll be here, too,” I assure him.
Tennant picks up Roman, holding him close, and the two of us sit on the edge of the bed, our respective Boys in our laps.
It’s…nice. It's not anything I ever expected, but the four of us—five when Jude is here—is something I never want to be without. So, as much as my insides still churn with fear, I know this is the right thing to do. Then we can have more of these moments in the future.
Pressing a kiss to Lio’s hair, I lean against Tennant, buoyed by having the three of them with me, knowing it’s as close to almost perfect as I can have.